Hamburg

Where can I study? Universities in Hamburg

• Universität Hamburg — university; the broadest range of programmes, campus in Rotherbaum/Eimsbüttel.
• Technische Universität Hamburg (TUHH) — technical university; its campus is in the Harburg district south of the Elbe (linked to the centre by S-Bahn). It is not in the city centre; plan your housing accordingly.
• HAW Hamburg — university of applied sciences; engineering, design, social work, health.
• HafenCity Universität — architecture, urban planning, civil engineering; small and specialised.

Private institutions such as Bucerius Law School have their own fee structures. Admission requirements and deadlines are on each institution's profile; this city page does not repeat them. For English-taught options see the English-taught programme list, and for a Master's without German the guide.

Where can I live? Student housing in Hamburg

1. Studierendenwerk Hamburg dorm. 26 residences, about 4,770 places; rents are all-inclusive (heating and utilities included, internet and cable TV free; the broadcasting fee is the tenant's). Furnished rooms start at €310; the portal's price filters show 'up to €400' and 'above €400' groups. Applications go exclusively through the online portal; e-mail applications are not accepted. You can choose up to three specific residences or all of them; choosing all shortens the wait. Apply at least three months before your move-in date. The deposit is €400–800 depending on the rent tier. An application creates no legal entitlement, and the Studierendenwerk publishes no exact waiting times.

2. Room in a shared flat (WG). Listing median €678 warm in 2025 (MLP 2025); MLP notes that WG rooms in Hamburg are strikingly expensive relative to the sample flat. Contracts and search: WG guide.

3. Private student housing. Providers such as The Fizz and Uniapart have units in Hamburg; get prices from the provider.

4. Independent flat. A 30 m² sample flat cost €626 warm (MLP 2025); Universität Hamburg gives €400–700 for housing.

5. Temporary first accommodation. If you missed the three-month application window, budget for short-term accommodation at the start of the semester.

No route guarantees a place within a set time; run the dorm application and the WG search in parallel.

Monthly budget: student expenses in Hamburg

Universität Hamburg's own ranges: housing about €400–700 and other living expenses about €500–700 per month (excluding additional insurance and a car). In the cards we use the private-market WG median (€678) for rent; with a dorm room from €310 the rent is markedly lower (the Studierendenwerk publishes no upper limit). Transport in 2026/27 is inside the semester contribution as the Deutschlandsemesterticket (€0 in the monthly card). Health insurance at the 2026 statutory student rate is €141–146.

Official minimum: blocked account €992 per month in 2026. In Hamburg, real costs with a WG rent exceed it; with a dorm room they come close.

What costs come up on arrival?

One-off items: in a dorm a deposit of €400–800 (by rent tier, STW Hamburg), on the private market at most three months' cold rent; the first rent; temporary accommodation if needed; basic furnishings (dorm rooms are furnished). These belong to the arrival budget, not the monthly one. Details: cost of living and housing guide.